Xperia Ray pops up on Play.com

If there's one manufacturer inadvertently hell-bent on ramming home the notion that Android phones are largely much of a muchness, it's surely Sony Ericsson. HTC's output is similarly mental, but at least they've encompassed dual-core, big screenness and 3D.

The Xperia Ray was first unveiled a couple of weeks back, and while Sony Ericsson describes it as an "irresistibly elegant Android smartphone", it's hard to understand what the freakin' point is, to be perfectly blunt.

Anyway, impromptu rant aside, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray has popped up for pre-order on Play.com. It's due to land on August 15, and it'll set you back £349.99 SIM free. With the iPhone 5 expected just a few weeks later, the Xperia Ray is sure to go like hotcakes, a popular North American breakfast treat.